Chapter 9

Though it was nearing midnight, Rick was still up, typing away at his computer. He was stumped when he arrived at the dilemma of how to further the relationship between Nikki and Rook. They were last seen caught in a thunderstorm that didn't serve to dampen the flame between the two lovers. Beyond that, he was unsure of how their relationship would continue.

How ironic, he thought. Life imitating art. The situation between him and Kate was so similar to that in his novel. Only, in his novel he could write the ending he wanted. Life wasn't nearly as easy.

The sound of a key jostling in the lock brought Rick out of Nikki's fictitious world and back to reality. Closing his laptop, he left his office to investigate the late night intruder and then remembered that Kate was due back home soon.

Or now. He opened up the door for her, as she was fumbling with the key.

"I could've opened that… and put my new key to good use," she pouted teasingly.

"Hello to you too," he greeted.

"Hmm… I told you not to wait up…" Kate said, slightly slurring her speech. "But then again, when do you ever follow my instructions?" she giggled.

Rick chuckled at her less than sober state. "Had a good time with Lanie?"

"Yup."

"Didn't do anything I wouldn't?"

"Of course not." Kate plopped herself down on the couch. "It'd be pretty hard to top your festivities. A police horse? I'd never be audacious enough. How embarrassing would it be for Ryan or Esposito to arrest me?"

"You need to make some wild, drunken memories of your own, so that you'll have a story to tell at parties. Come on Kate, what's the craziest, wildest thing you've ever done?"

Biting her lip, she thought for a moment. A glint flasher in her eye, as she remembered a particular college party that got a bit out of hand. Kate said mischievously, "Story for another day."

"Then what did you two do?" Rick asked as he sat down next to her.

"Oh we just had a few drinks and talked about girl stuff…"

"Define: 'girl stuff,'" he said, emphasizing the words with air quotes.

"You know, the usual. Careers. Clothes. Sex. Boys and their stupid penises. Speaking of which, I need to talk to you."

"About my stupid penis?"

"No. Yes. Kind of."

"What?"

"You know… us."

"Oh."

"Yeah." After a few seconds of hesitation she turned to him and asked, "What are we doing?"

"I don't know," he scratched his head sheepishly. "I was hoping that you would tell me."

"Well, we're not a couple." He expected that much.

"So, we should just forget about it? Pretend that it never happened?"

"No it happened, we can't disregard that. It happened twice, and I kind of want it to happen again…"

"But we're not a couple," Rick repeated.

"We can be um… what's that term Lanie used… friends with Benedict?"

"You mean friends with benefits?"

"Yeah, that's it. Friends with benefits. I don't really know what that is though."

"It's like… a casual relationship. Mainly a sexual relationship without emotions involved."

"So just sex?"

"Just sex."

"Hmm… that could be fun. We could just be friends and have sex. Lots of it."

"That's what friends with benefits is for."

"Okay then."

"Okay?" Rick was thoroughly surprised that she would agree to such an arrangement. Since the moment he met her, he'd been trying to pursue some kind of relationship with her. And no doubt he wanted her badly. Rick envied every single man who had ever held her hand, kissed her lips, or touched her body. He wanted to do those things with her. He wanted to be the only one to do so.

"Yes. I'm saying yes. Unless you don't want to go for it."

He snapped out of his confusion long enough to accept her proposition. "No. I'm all for it."

"This isn't just some cheap relationship. It's just… we can't keep our hands off each other, and I need time to think about things. I don't think I'm ready for a committed relationship with anyone right now. I'm not just using you for sex."

"I'd be fine if you were," he grinned.

"Very funny. I just don't want you to think that I'm being cheap or slutty."

"Kate, I could never think of you like that," he said as he moved closer to her. "You are a beautiful, respectable woman, and you deserve to be treated like one. But if this is what you want…"

"Mhmm."

"Are you sure?"

"Yes."

"Okay," he confirmed.

"Rules. We need rules."

"Isn't the point of this that there are no rules?"

"But there always needs to be rules."

"I hope you know by now that rules are meant to be broken. I, of all people, should have taught you that."

"Fine, the one rule is that there are no rules."

Rick started laughing at this.

"What's so funny?" Kate asked, genuinely confused.

"Nothing. Only you would make a rule about no rules," he said with a smile that extended to his eyes.

"Hmmph. Fine."

"Come here." Rick pulled her onto his lap. He pushed the bangs out of her face and looked deeply into her green irises. "You sure about this?"

"Definitely."

She leaned forward to close the gap between them and crashed her lips onto his. Curious hands roamed the other's body as they reconnected on a whole new level. With every movement they discovered more about each other, what makes him moan, what makes her tremble. Rick broke the kiss and pulled back just enough to look at Kate.

"Hello friend," he whispered.

She giggled and moved to unbutton his shirt. He distracted her from the task at hand by trailing kisses along her jawbone, reaching a spot behind her ear that he paid special attention to. She let out a guttural moan as he nibbled and sucked on her earlobe gently.

"Clothes… we both have too many clothes on," she panted.

"Mmm… then we better get back to my bedroom. Then we can have some fun," he enticed.

He picked her up to carry her to his bedroom, not without squeals of both delight and protest from her. Setting her back down on her feet, they ascended the stairs with agility and reached the top in record time. She took his hand in hers and headed to the bedroom where they had previously made love the night before. With their hands clasped together, Kate and Rick disappeared into the darkness of the night.

If there's no one beside you when your soul embarks,
Then I'll follow you into the dark

A/N: Out of town for a few days. You know what would be awesome to return home to? Lots of reviews! Next few updates will be fluff. Still working on more updates... please bear with me! And thanks to everyone who has reviewed so far. They make my day. Good to know people are actually reading my story. XD